Let It End

**Althaia**

I didn’t think it was possible to feel more miserable than this. But I kept being dragged down, feeling like I was drowning in fear and pure devastation.

I was exhausted.

Exhausted from everything that happened to me. I still hadn’t even processed the fact that Gaetano wasn’t my father. And then everything followed right after as if trying to give me a heart attack by exposing the brutal truth to me.

That my entire life has been a fucking lie.

Twenty-five years old and I was suddenly having an identity crisis that appeared out of the blue. For so many years where it has just been me and my mother, living life together. But it turned out I didn’t even know who she truly was.

My mother, who I thought I witnessed die, is somewhere in this safe-house.

Well and alive.

I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her. Or maybe I was seeing a ghost. Or maybe I ended up in hell and this was my punishment. To be tormented by my mother for failing to protect her, and letting her die. … I couldn’t understand it, but she was right there in front of me. It freaked me out so much that I just had to get away.

And now, I was going through the same thing that had left me absolutely shattered.

Damiano stood still, looking at me like his entire world just crashed. Tears silently went down my face.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered to him, feeling my chest tighten as the pain only got worse. I had failed once again.

Damiano’s eyes narrowed, almost looking furious with me when he closed the distance between us. He cupped my face, looking at me firmly.

“It’s not your fault, you hear me? Don’t ever blame yourself when this is entirely out of your control.”

“How can I not?” I sniffed.

“You told me before to take a test, and I didn’t because I didn’t want to get disappointed. And now… Now, it’s gone before we have even -” I couldn’t take it anymore as my voice cracked. Damiano pulled me into his chest, letting me cry out my pain while he comforted me the best he could.

“There was nothing we could have done, even if we knew before. I’m sorry you have to go through this again…” He sighed. I looked at him, choking on my sob when I saw sadness in his eyes.

“How bad is it? Are you bleeding a lot?” I wiped away my tears and shook my head.

“It’s not like last time. It’s more spotting and I’m cramping a little. I thought I was getting my period, but then you said the test was positive…” I sat down on the bed with Damiano, feeling like my head was about to explode with the banging headache I had gotten.

Right now, I just wanted to lie down and not wake up before this nightmare was over.

“Let’s get you to the clinic.” I nodded, closing my eyes, mustering the courage to face what was happening to me again.

“Can I have Ellie? She makes me feel comfortable.” Ellie has fixed me up a few times already, and I would rather have a familiar face to give me the bad news instead of a stranger.

I could already feel the lump in my throat just thinking of it.

“I’ll give her a call and let her know to meet us there.” Damiano said, and I held his hand to give him some comfort too.

I wasn’t sure how long we sat in silence until Damiano said we should go. We slowly made our way down, mostly because I didn’t want him to move too much. He shouldn’t be moving at all but he was one stubborn man.

I stopped in the middle of the stairs, feeling my heart slowly start beating faster.

It was my mother right at the doorway to the living room.

I swallowed hard, feeling my lips tremble. I walked down the rest of the stairs, closing the distance between us, but stopped a few steps away from her. My mother stood still, watching me, waiting for me to make the first move.

I observed her closely. Watching the color on her cheeks, the brightness of her green eyes, seeing how her chest rose and fell as she breathed. She looked just how I remembered her before I thought I had lost her.

“Mamá.” I cried out and reached for her.

“My baby Althaia.” My mother wrapped her arms around me tightly, holding me as close to her body as she could. I let out a shaky breath when I heard her cry, feeling her arms around me and feeling how her heart was thumping behind her chest.

It was like all my pain, and all my worry vanished when she held me. How I had longed for her touch for so long, and it tore my heart apart knowing I was never going to see her again. But here she was, holding me in her arms again.

She was alive.

“My sweet Althaia…” She whispered, looking at me with her teary eyes as she placed her hands on my cheeks.

“I thought I had lost you.” My voice was barely a whisper as I sniffed, trying to control my crying. My mother gave me a sad smile.

“Your boyfriend took good care of me. It killed me that I couldn’t see you, but I knew it had to be done this way. For your safety too. He promised me I would see you again, and I’ve been waiting ever since.” She explained. I wiped away my tears, and let out a small smile.

“Husband, mom. He’s my husband.” My mother took a sharp intake of breath, looking at me in surprise.

“You got married?” I nodded, and she looked behind me at Damiano.

“Even though she’s -” She stopped talking, looking back at me.

“Yes. Even though I don’t have a drop of Italian in me.” I said, letting her know that I knew about Gaetano not being my biological father.

“As if that would have stopped me from marrying her.” Damiano said, having me turn around to face him. He had his arms crossed, staring blankly at my mother. I couldn’t help but smile. It reminded me of when he came to visit me back home, and how they wanted to kill each other.

Damiano was still not fond of my mother.

It had me let out a slight chuckle, making Damiano look at me. His gaze softened and a small smile appeared on his lips.

“I know what I want when I see it.” He winked. Even when I was a complete mess, he still managed to make me blush. I looked at my mother, seeing her with a warm smile. I embraced her once again, just to make sure she truly was here with me.

“Cara… How’s my Cara?” My mother’s smile faded when she saw my expression.

“She’ll be okay.” I told her as I let out a small sigh.

“I will tell you everything, but…” I wanted to tell her everything that has happened ever since, but there was something I needed to know first.

“Of course, honey. I’m the one who owes you an explanation about everything.” She caressed my cheek and I gave a small nod. I didn’t want to be kept in the dark anymore, and it was time for me to know the whole truth.

“And also, he’s outside… He deserves to hear it too.” I didn’t need to elaborate on who I was referring to because her expression already told me she knew.

My mother didn’t say anything and caressed my hair before tucking a strand behind my ear. She let out a small smile but I knew it was forced.

“Do you want me to make you a cup of tea?”

“That would be nice.” I said. She gave my hand a squeeze before I watched her retreating form.

My mother was nervous and probably needed a minute to herself before facing the man she hadn’t seen in over twenty-five years. And who apparently also happened to be my biological father.

“We should get you to the clinic first.” Damiano said when I neared him.

“I know but I think I need to do this first in case… I don’t think I will be able to have this conversation after.” For now, I could pretend everything was okay with me. There was only so much I could handle at the time.

“Are you sure?” I nodded.

“I am, but maybe you should rest? You look tired.” I said worriedly. It was too soon for him to be standing and moving around this much. I knew he was trying to keep it minimal, but still, he should be in bed resting until he fully recovered.

“Are you saying I look like shit?” He raised a brow.

“Just a little.” I bit back a smile when he clicked his tongue at me.

“I’m kidding.” I chuckled, unable to keep it in.

“You’ve never been sexier. You should go to war some more. It does add some attractiveness.” I joked. Damiano gave me a playful smile, leaning closer to me as he held my chin to look at him.

“I’ve told you before… If you want me to burn the world for you, I will.” He sealed his promise with a kiss, having my heart flutter. Once again has he proven he would go beyond and above for me.

And I would do the very same for him.

“After everything, I want to go to bed and sleep next to you.” That was all I needed. Just to be by his side and eventually, everything would be okay.

“Whatever you want, my love.”

“I should get Alexei…” I said and we went out to get him. There was no reason for my mother to tell me the whole story, just for her to tell it again to him. I wanted to spare her as much emotional pain as possible.

“I will get him, just stay here.” I told them once we were out. I didn’t wait for a reply as I made my way to Alexei and Nestor. He was leaning against his car but straightened up when he saw me.

I stopped in front of him, feeling a little awkward talking to him after knowing who he truly was to me. I could barely handle his piercing blue eyes on me.

“Are you okay?” Alexei asked, surprising me.

“I - Well… I don’t know…” My mind was in chaos at the moment, and I was just trying to push through it all.

“… Turns out she is alive.” I decided to say. I had no idea how else I was supposed to tell him, but it seemed fitting since I had no idea she was alive.

“Follow me.” I told them and went back to the house with them close behind. This time, Antonio and Giovanni followed inside as well. I doubted Alexei and Nestor would try anything since this place was heavily guarded, and they were all watching the Russian mob boss, waiting for him to make just one mistake before they would fire.

My mother was in the living room, her back facing us as she was looking out of the floor-length window. She turned around when she heard us enter, her eyes immediately resting on Alexei. They didn’t say anything for a long while as he, too, was watching her.

He was looking stunned at the sight of her, and he probably gave up the idea of ever seeing her again a long time ago.

Then his eyes turned ice cold with a glare.

“You damned woman!” And he pulled out his gun.

*Well, shit.*

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Hi Lovelies, updates will be a little slow as I am moving into my apartment! I will have the next chapter ready once I've settled in <3

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